Ore-separator



PatenfdSept. 6, 1921.

S. L. BOGGS.

ORE SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED ocr Is, I9I9.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL L. BOGGS, OF IVANHOE, VIRGINIA.

OREFSEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

Application filed October 16, 1919. Serial No. 331,014.

T 0 all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. Bocas, a resident of Ivanhoe, in the county of Carroll and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to apparatus for separating ore from gangue by the flotation process.

The particular objects of the invention are to provide new and improved methods and apparatus for forming a froth adapted 'to take up the metallic constituents of ore, while permitting the impurities or gangue to settle, and [thus effecting separation. The apparatus is designed for more effectively producing the separating froth and for causing a positive circulation of the mixtures in the apparatus, as will be more fully set forth. The advantages and the general operation of the device will be apparent from the following specification. y

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is a plan view; and Fig. Sis a plan view of the larger agitating element of the apparatus.

It is well known in the art that metallic constituents of ore may be separated from the gangue thereof, by first pulverizing the ore, and then agitating it violently, in a mixture of oil and water adapted to form a thick froth, or suds. 1f the mixture of oil and water, or water and other element adapted to produce the same effect, is correct, the froth formed will be sufficiently dense and strong to entangle the lighter metallic particles, while the gangue particles will not be retained, but will settle into the water beneath the suds. This method has been practised for separating lead, tin, zinc, gold, and similar ores, and the general proposition abovestated is not new.

The present apparatus has to do with more efficient apparatus for carrying out such a process.

A main separation |tank is provided having end walls 1 and 2, bottom 3 and sides 4. Above one end of this tank is a chute 5 adapted yto feed the material to be separated to the tank. It will be understood that the ore is pulverized in a machine preliminary to being fed through the chute 5, and that is not a part of the present invention. Below the mouth of the chute is situated an inclined partition or baflie 6, which is attached to the side walls of the tank, and is sloped to cause the powdered mixture of ore to be fed slowly into the main body of the tank through a narrow opening 7 immediately .adjacent to the end wall 1, as plainly shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2. This feeding process is slow and the ore is thoroughly wet before passing through opening 7 ,Y by splash from the tank. Just beneath this opening pipes 8 are led through the end wall l. These are L-shaped, and have 'their vertical arms extending upward to a point near the point of the level of the top of the tank.

Their function is to admitair to the compartment below member 6, as will be more fully described below.

Near the bottom of the tank close to the end wall 1 is an agitator fixed on rotary Vshaft 9, which is adapted to be drivenby sprocket-wheel 10 connected to the chain 11, which in yturn is driven by any suitable power device. On the other end of the shaft 9 is a fixed sprocket-wheel 12 adapted to drive a chain 13, which in turn drives rotary shaft 14 by means of sprocket-wheel 15. Fixed on the shaft 14 and situated inside the tank is a second and smaller agitator. A

partment A, formed by the end 1, bottom and sides of the main tank and by a partition consisting of a box-like member formed by boards 19, 20, and 21 extending across the tank and fitted to each other and to the bottom and sides thereof in watertight relation. Just above this partitioning member there is a trough-like partitioning member composed of boards 22, 23, 24 and 25 extending from wall to wall of the main tank. The board 25 is inclined upwardly toward its outer edge, and cooperates with partitioning board 26, likewise extending across the tank. The members 19, 20 and 21 form a dead space or chamber B, which is not used. The members 22, 23, 24 and 26 form a supplementary agitation chamber or Y trough C, which is open at the top to overflow from the main agitation chamber A, and which opens by the passage 27 rformed between members 25 and 26, into the main body and settlement chamber D of thetank.

'This latter chamber D is formed by the walls and bottom of the main tank and by an inclined bottom partition 30, extending from the bottom of the tank to a point near ithe top thereof, and having Water-tight connection with the sides of lthe tank. At the upper end of the inclined bottom 30 the end wall 2 of the tank is cut away, leaving an overflow passage, controlled by gate 31, into a spout or chute 32.

rIn the bottom of the main tank, leading from the chamber D there is a draw oi' pipe 32 itted with a valve33. This leads into a supplementary water-tight chamber E, attached to the bottom of the main tank. Leading from this compartment E is an inclined screw conveyer34, inclosed in a suitable casing 35 and adapted t0 be driven by chain connection to sprocket-wheel 36 mounted on the lower end of the conveyer shaft 37. In the bottom of the upper end of the conveyer casing 35 is an-opening 38, having a spout 39 leading therefrom. The spouts 32 and 39`are placed to empty into any desired receptacles, as for example into another separation tank similar to the one just above vdescribed. This is for the purpose oi' continuing the process by subi ecting the mixtures to additional. separation in other tanks connected in series as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: f f

A suitable mixture of water and oil, or other suds-forming materials, is placed in the tank,preferably to about the level shown in Fig. 1. That is, to a point extending above the top of the board 20. Pulverized ore is fed through the chute 5 from a storage hopper, or pulverizing mill. It is introduced slowly into the compartment A at the end of the tank, being wet by the splash therefrom. The shafts 9 and 141 are continuously driven. The form of the paddles 16 and round beating members 17, permitting the mixture to pass freely therebetween, results in a very rapid and elicient agitation with resulting` formation of suds, and a continuous and intimate mixture of' the liquid, solid and froth constituents. It will be observed that both agitators turn clockwise. Therefore the lighter suds-contents are thrown continuouslyy to the right, andliquid at the bottom of the tank is continuously and positively' drawn tothe left through passage E. The suds are driven out of the chamber A over the walls 22 into the supplementary agitation chamber C, where anv additional agitation takes' place, and they are Vdriven through the passage 27 out into the main compartment D. 11i jQhislarge space in which there is no agitation, the gangue tends to settle out of the suds and to tall to the bottom of the mixture.l Tt is drawn oli through pipe 32 into the chamber E, and carried thereromby the conveyer 311 to the outlet 38, as will be readily seen. There will be a continual circulation of water through the passage l?, from the main settlement chamberD into the main agitation chamber A, and likewise a continualcirculation in the opposite direction of the suds over the wall 22 and through the outlet 27.

A certain amount'ot the suds in compartment D will be continually driven out of that chamber when the gate 31 is removed. 1t will be understood that the ore particles which have become entangled in, and are held by the suds are carried out the chute 32, and are then separated in the usual manner.

The process -mal be repeated as many times as it is desira le in view of the character of the ore, in a series of similar tanks, of which only two are indicated in the drawings.

The apparatus described is particularly efficient in that the agitator is designed to produce very rapidly a` dense body of suds, in that a second and supplementary agitation is provided by the small paddle wheel, and in that the division of the tank and driven agitators are adapted to produce a continuous circulation of the liquid mixture, and a continuous production and expulsion oi the suds. The pulverized ore is added at a point so that all of it must be taken up by the agitation members and pass through the entire process. Thatis, there' is no chance for preliminary settlement, and no chance for any particles to escape beinO subjected to the entire treatment. Air is admitted by pipes 8 at a point where there is a constant suction, and at the place whe-re it is most efficient in the production of suds.

l claim:

1. Apparatus for separating ore from gangue, comprising a container, means to feed a mixture to be separated to the container, an agitating device situated in a compartment beneath the feed device, a supplementary compartment adjacent to the first mentioned compartment extending across the tank and adapted to receive rothed material from the said agitating device and to discharge the rothed material into a main settlement chamber, an agitating device situated in the supplementary compartment, a main settlement chamber beyond the supplementary compartment, the said main settlement chamber being connected to the first mentioned compartment by a passage beneath the supplementary agitation compartment.

2.' Apparatus for separating ore from gangue comprising a luid-tight container, an agitation device situated in a primary agitation compartment, a supplementary compartment open at its top to 'receive frothed material :trom thev primary agitation device and adapted to discharge same into a settlement chamber, an agitation device in the said supplementary compartment, and a settlement chamber beyond said supplementary compartment, the settlement chamber being connected to the primary agitating compartment by a passage beneath the supplementary agitation compartment.

3. Anf apparatus :for separating ore from gangue comprising a container, said container being divided into an agitation compartment at one end thereof, a supplementary compartment extending across the container and open at its top to receive rothed material from the agitation compartment and adapted to discharge it into a settlement chamber beyond, an agitating device in the supplementary chamber, and a passage beneath the supplementary chamber connecting the settlement chamber and the primary agitating chamber, said passage being intermediate the top and bottom of the main container.

4. .Apparatus for separating ore from gangue comprising a compartment, an agitating device therein, a secondary compartment open at its top to receive frothed material from the first compartment and adapted to empty into a settlement chamber beyond, an agitating device in the secondary compartment, and a connection between the said settlement chamber and the primary agitation chamber, said connection extending beneath the secondary agitation cham-- ber and being intermediate the top and bpttom of the settlement chamber.

5. Apparatus for separating ore from gangue comprising a main tank or container, said tank being divided into a primary compartment, a secondary compartment, and a settlement chamber, an agitation device in the primary compartment, an agitation device in the secondary compartment, the secondary compartment being open at its top and adapted to receive frothed material from the primary compartment and to deliver said material to the top of the settlement chamber, the supplementary compartment extending across the main container between the primary compartment and settlement chamber and having its bottom intermediate the top and bottom of the settlement chamber, a battle beneath the bottom of the secondary compartment, said baffle extending upward to a point lower than the bottom of the secondary compartment to form an openingconnecting the secondary compartment and primary compartment intermediate the top and bottom of the settlement chamber and beneath the secondary compartment.

6. In an apparatus for separating ore from gangue comprising an agitating device and a settlement chamber, the combination of a secondary compartment positioned between thc agitating compartment and settlement compartment and adapted to receive frothed material from the agitation compartment and to deliver it to the top of thefsettlement chamber, and an agitating device in the secondary compartment. v

7. ln an apparatus 'for separating ore from gangue comprising an agitating device and a settlement chamber, the combination ot' a secondary compartment positioned between the agitation compartment and settlement compartment and adapted to receive trothed material from the agitation compartment and to deliver it to the top of the settlement chamber, and an agitating device in the secondary compartment, the secondary compartment being raised above the bottom of the settlement chamber to permit return flow of liquid from the settlement chamber to the primary agitating compartment.

8. In an apparatus for separating ore from gangne, a receiving compartment, an agitating device therein, a settlement chamber, a partition separating the agitating compartment from the settlement chamber and extending upward from the bottom of said compartments, a supplementary compartment situated above the top of the partition and leaving a space therebetween, said supplementary compartment being o pen at its top and adapted to receive frothed material from the agitating compartment, an agitating device in the supplementary compartment adapted to beat up the frothed mixture received from the first compartment and to deliver it to the top of the settlement chamber.

9. Apparatus for separating ore from gangue, comprising a container, mea-ns to feed a mixture to be separated to the container, an agitating device situated ina compartment beneath the feed device, a supplementary compartment adjacent to the first mentioned compartment extending across the tank and adapted to receive irothed material from the said agitating device and to discharge the frothed material into a main settlement chamber, an agitating device situated in the supplementary compartment, a main settlement chamber beyond the supplementary compartment, the said main settlement chamber being connected to the iirst mentioned compartment by a passage beneath the supplementary agitation compartment, and means to draw oft' sediment from the bottom of the main settlement chamber.

10. Apparatus for separating ore from gangue comprising a fluid-tight container, an agitation device situated in a primary agitation compartment, a supplementary compartment open at its top to receive fiothed material from the primary agitation means to draw off material from the top and l0 device and adapted to discharge same into a from the bottom of the settlement chamber. settlement chamber, an agitation device in 111 testimony whereof, I have hereunto set the said supplementary compartment7 and my hand.

a settlement chamber beyond said Suppiementaiy compartment7 the settlement chambei beingcomiected tothe primary agitating Vitnesses: compartment by a'passage beneath the sup- ALIGE A. TRILL, piementary agitation compartment, and HOWARDL. SNIVELY.

SAMUEL L. BOGrGnQ 

